Metropolitan Nicholas

Metropolitan Nicholas was born in Glens Falls, New York in 1953 to Emmanuel and Calliope Pissare. Metropolitan Nicholas' family also includes two brothers and a sister. When the family lived in Glens Falls, they belonged to the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Schenectady, New York. Today, Metropolitan Nicholas' family resides in Denver, Colorado.

After graduating from Glens Falls High School, Metropolitan Nicholas was accepted into Colgate University and applied for scholarships. After several interviews, he was awarded the Colgate War Memorial Scholarship, one of the most prestigious scholarships offered at Colgate. Four years later he graduated Cum Laude with a double major in French and Classical Civilizations, with an emphasis in Latin.

In 1975, Metropolitan Nicholas enrolled as a graduate student at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. In 1978 he earned a Masters of Divinity degree and was the valedictorian of his class. He continued academic work through post-graduate studies at the University of Athens following his graduation from Holy Cross.

Metropolitan Nicholas worked in public health for ten years in Denver, where he was active in the life of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral. In 1983, he joined the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Denver, working as an assistant to Bishop Philip of Daphnous, who was serving as locum tenens of the Diocese. Later, he served Bishop Anthimos of Denver as an assistant. In 1990, he formally began his service in the Diocese of Pittsburgh as Administrative Assistant to Bishop Maximos.

Metropolitan Nicholas was ordained as a Deacon on July 6th, 1991 by Bishop Maximos at the Annunciation Church in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Maximos and co-celebrant Bishop Philip at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Denver, Colorado on July 13th, 1991. He was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite on the same day, based on his years of service to the Church.

He served as Chancellor of the Diocese of Pittsburgh from 1991 to 1995 and was Chancellor of the Diocese of Detroit from 1996 to 1997. Archbishop Spyridon then assigned him to the parish of Holy Cross in Brooklyn, New York in August 1997. In Brooklyn, Metropolitan Nicholas initiated innovative programs in the parish such as Fair Share Stewardship and the Inquiry Class for parishioners and engaged couples. He also started a Brownies Girl Scout Troop, started the Children's Liturgical Choir of the Dimitrios and Georgia Kaloidis Parochial School, and helped rebuild the parochial school's library.

Metropolitan Nicholas was elected as the Bishop of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Detroit by the Holy and Sacred Synod of Constantinople on Saturday, March 13, 1999 (view election document). He was consecrated as Bishop on the Saturday of Lazarus, April 3, 1999, at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Brooklyn, New York by Archbishop Spyridon, who was assisted by Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh and Bishop Dimitri of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. His Enthronement took place on Sunday, April 18, 1999 at the Annunciation Cathedral in Detroit, MI.

Metropolitan Nicholas has also served the Greek Orthodox Church as a member of the Archdiocesan Council, member of the Stewardship Commission of the Archdiocese, board member of the St. Michael's Home for the Aged, and as a member of the Archdiocesan District Spiritual Court.

In 2002, His Eminence was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan by the Holy and Sacred Synod of Constantinople. This appointment came after the Holy and Sacred Synod of Constantinople elevated the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Detroit to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit. The Metropolis of Detroit has direct spiritual authority, supervision, and pastoral care over its clergy and parishes in seven states, including all of Michigan, Kentucky, and Arkansas, and parts of Indiana, upstate New York, Ohio, and Tennessee. Through his years of service at all levels to the Greek Orthodox Church, his educational background, and his deep and longstanding commitment to the Church, Metropolitan Nicholas has served, and continues to serve, a successful hierarchical ministry in the Metropolis of Detroit.